i9-12900K vs i7-920

VS

Aggregate performance score

Core i7-920
2008
4 cores / 8 threads, 130 Watt
1.79
Core i9-12900K
2021
16 cores / 24 threads, 125 Watt
26.11
+1359%

Core i9-12900K outperforms Core i7-920 by a whopping 1359% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

Comparing Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K processor market type (desktop or notebook), architecture, sales start time and price.

Place in the ranking2013185
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation1.2235.73
Market segmentDesktop processorDesktop processor
SeriesCore i7 (Desktop)Intel Core i9
Power efficiency1.3019.77
Architecture codenameBloomfield (2008−2010)Alder Lake, Golden Cove, Gracemont (2021)
Release dateNovember 2008 (16 years ago)4 November 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$340$589

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance per price, higher is better.

i9-12900K has 2829% better value for money than i7-920.

Detailed specifications

Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K basic parameters such as number of cores, number of threads, base frequency and turbo boost clock, lithography, cache size and multiplier lock state. These parameters indirectly say of CPU speed, though for more precise assessment you have to consider their test results.

Physical cores4 (Quad-Core)16 (Hexadeca-Core)
Threads824
Base clock speed2.66 GHz3.2 GHz
Boost clock speed2.93 GHz5.2 GHz
Bus typeno dataDMI 4.0
Bus rate1333 MHz8 × 16 GT/s
Multiplierno data32
L1 cache64 KB (per core)80K (per core)
L2 cache256 KB (per core)1.25 MB (per core)
L3 cache8 MB (shared)30 MB (shared)
Chip lithography45 nm10 nm
Die size263 mm2215.25 mm2"
Maximum core temperature68 °C100 °C
Maximum case temperature (TCase)no data72 °C
Number of transistors731 millionno data
64 bit support++
Windows 11 compatibility-+
Unlocked multiplier-+

Compatibility

Information on Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K compatibility with other computer components: motherboard (look for socket type), power supply unit (look for power consumption) etc. Useful when planning a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. Note that power consumption of some processors can well exceed their nominal TDP, even without overclocking. Some can even double their declared thermals given that the motherboard allows to tune the CPU power parameters.

Number of CPUs in a configuration11
SocketFCLGA1366,PLGA1366FCLGA1700
Power consumption (TDP)130 Watt125 Watt

Technologies and extensions

Technological solutions and additional instructions supported by Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K. You'll probably need this information if you require some particular technology.

Instruction set extensionsIntel® SSE4.2Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX2
AES-NI-+
AVX-+
vProno data+
Enhanced SpeedStep (EIST)++
Speed Shiftno data+
Turbo Boost Technology1.02.0
Hyper-Threading Technology++
Idle States++
Thermal Monitoring-+
SIPP-+
Demand Based Switching-no data
PAE36 Bitno data
Turbo Boost Max 3.0no data+
Deep Learning Boost-+

Security technologies

Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K technologies aimed at improving security, for example, by protecting against hacks.

TXT++
EDB++
Secure Keyno data+
OS Guardno data+

Virtualization technologies

Virtual machine speed-up technologies supported by Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K are enumerated here.

VT-dno data+
VT-x++
EPT++

Memory specs

Types, maximum amount and channel quantity of RAM supported by Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K. Depending on the motherboard, higher memory frequencies may be supported.

Supported memory typesDDR3DDR4, DDR5
Maximum memory size24 GB128 GB
Max memory channels32
Maximum memory bandwidth25.6 GB/s76.805 GB/s
ECC memory support-+

Graphics specifications

General parameters of integrated GPUs, if any.

Integrated graphics cardno dataIntel UHD Graphics 770
Quick Sync Video-+
Clear Video HDno data+
Graphics max frequencyno data1.55 GHz
Execution Unitsno data32

Graphics interfaces

Available interfaces and connections of Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs.

Number of displays supportedno data4

Graphics image quality

Maximum display resolutions supported by Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, including resolutions over different interfaces.

Max resolution over HDMI 1.4no data4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz
Max resolution over eDPno data5120 x 3200 @ 120Hz
Max resolution over DisplayPortno data7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz

Graphics API support

APIs supported by Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K integrated GPUs, sometimes API versions are included.

DirectXno data12
OpenGLno data4.5

Peripherals

Specifications and connection of peripherals supported by Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K.

PCIe versionno data5.0 and 4.0
PCI Express lanesno data20

Synthetic benchmark performance

Various benchmark results of the processors in comparison. Overall score is measured in points in 0-100 range, higher is better.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance rating. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

i7-920 1.79
i9-12900K 26.11
+1359%

Passmark

Passmark CPU Mark is a widespread benchmark, consisting of 8 different types of workload, including integer and floating point math, extended instructions, compression, encryption and physics calculation. There is also one separate single-threaded scenario measuring single-core performance.

i7-920 2837
i9-12900K 41470
+1362%

GeekBench 5 Single-Core

GeekBench 5 Single-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses only a single CPU core.

i7-920 415
i9-12900K 2652
+539%

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core

GeekBench 5 Multi-Core is a cross-platform application developed in the form of CPU tests that independently recreate certain real-world tasks with which to accurately measure performance. This version uses all available CPU cores.

i7-920 1424
i9-12900K 15571
+993%

Cinebench 10 32-bit single-core

Cinebench R10 is an ancient ray tracing benchmark for processors by Maxon, authors of Cinema 4D. Its single core version uses just one CPU thread to render a futuristic looking motorcycle.

i7-920 3874
i9-12900K 9859
+154%

Cinebench 10 32-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 10 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R10 using all the processor threads. Possible number of threads is limited by 16 in this version.

i7-920 15576
i9-12900K 71819
+361%

3DMark06 CPU

3DMark06 is a discontinued DirectX 9 benchmark suite from Futuremark. Its CPU part contains two scenarios, one dedicated to artificial intelligence pathfinding, another to game physics using PhysX package.

i7-920 4728
i9-12900K 18753
+297%

wPrime 32

wPrime 32M is a math multi-thread processor test, which calculates square roots of first 32 million integer numbers. Its result is measured in seconds, so that the less is benchmark result, the faster the processor.

i7-920 9.57
i9-12900K 3.66
+161%

Cinebench 11.5 64-bit multi-core

Cinebench Release 11.5 Multi Core is a variant of Cinebench R11.5 which uses all the processor threads. A maximum of 64 threads is supported in this version.

i7-920 5
i9-12900K 46
+852%

Gaming performance

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 1.79 26.11
Physical cores 4 16
Threads 8 24
Chip lithography 45 nm 10 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 130 Watt 125 Watt

i9-12900K has a 1358.7% higher aggregate performance score, 300% more physical cores and 200% more threads, a 350% more advanced lithography process, and 4% lower power consumption.

The Core i9-12900K is our recommended choice as it beats the Core i7-920 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions on choice between Core i7-920 and Core i9-12900K, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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Intel Core i7-920
Core i7-920
Intel Core i9-12900K
Core i9-12900K

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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